# Ceremonial Hanging (palepai)

- By: Paminggir (Indonesia, South Sumatra, Lampung area)
- Date: c. 1900
- Medium: Cotton, silk, and silver-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped bast fiber (probably ramie), plain weave with supplementary patterning and brocading wefts, main warp fringe
- Classification: Religious/Ritual Object
- Dimensions: 220 × 68.8 cm (86 5/8 × 25 1/8 in.)
- Culture: Indonesia
- Credit line: Gift of E. M. Bakwin Indonesian Textile Collection
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/180303)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/8d6ce70c-aa34-7dac-3c88-19ac3a1df7e7/full/!1920,882/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Known as “ship cloths,” ceremonial hangings like this one typically feature sailing ships and related imagery. In this composition, the large geometric designs depict stylized trees and mark an unusual departure from earlier, more traditional ship designs. Up until the end of the 19th century, these ceremonial textiles—called palepai—were important features in the Lampung province of Indonesia during rites of passage, such as marriage, death, or accession to a higher social rank. Such transitional moments were considered to be fraught with danger, and the palepai hanging served as a special form of protection.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0